A $360 million digital radio system designed to help prevent another Waterfall rail disaster is running five years behind schedule, and transport officials have given up predicting when it will be ready.

The new digital radio system is designed to allow drivers, controllers, signallers, guards and track workers to communicate with each other, and remove "black spots" on the network where the analogue radio cuts out.

Since work began in 2008, the project aimed at helping to prevent rail disasters has been plagued by repeated delays.The Waterfall accident in January 2003 claimed the lives of six passengers and the train driver.

The Waterfall accident in January 2003 claimed the lives of six passengers and the train driver. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

Officials and contractors missed their most recent deadline of last July despite assurances almost two years ago from then Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian that "this complex project is now back on track" following delays under the previous Labor government.Advertisement

Transport for NSW's deputy director general for infrastructure and services, Fergus Gammie, declined to give a completion date for the project due to its complexity.

"Clearly this project has been going for a long time. We have been fairly transparent that when this project came to us in 2012 it wasn't in great shape," he said ....

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced an Australian first for train customers – a grocery collection trial to save people time after their commute home.

The new ‘Click & Collect’ trial allows customers to shop online with Woolworths and pick their shopping up from specially designed lockers at the station on their way home.

“Everyone has time pressures, so we thought why not help train customers save time and be able to pick up their groceries at the station on the way home,” Mr Constance said.

“We’re trying to get customers home quicker and avoid the mad afternoon dash to the shops. Customers will be able to pick up a range of products from fresh food to frozen, even last minute ingredients for dinner.”

Mr Constance said Sydney Trains is partnering with Woolworths on the 12-month trial, which is launching at Bondi Junction Station, after the supermarket won a competitive tendering process.

“Click & Collect lockers have been installed at Bondi Junction on a trial basis. Customers can order their shopping online from Woolworths on their mobile before 11am and pick them up before they catch the train or bus, or on their way home,” Mr Constance said.

“Bondi Junction is one of our busiest suburban stations, with around 40,000 customer movements each day. It’s also a busy bus interchange, so seemed like the logical choice to see if our customers like the idea.”

“I am determined to tap into new technology that will improve the transport experience for our customers. This is a great example of the new initiatives customers can expect to see more of.”

Kate Langford, Woolworths General Manager Digital Retail said: “Woolworths is always looking for new and innovative ways to serve our customers and make their shopping easier and more convenient.”

“Click & Collect is already popular in our stores and at our drive through locations. Now our customers will be able to collect their groceries at the station on their way home which is great for commuters," Mrs Langford said.

Similar services have been implemented on rail networks internationally, including the London underground, however this is believed to be the first at an Australian train station.

Once the trial is complete and evaluated, Sydney Trains will explore the possibility of rolling out the initiative on a permanent basis at other suitable stations.

Today’s announcement marks the start of a new ‘Future Transport’ program that will culminate in the Future Transport Summit 2016, where experts from Surry Hills to Silicon Valley will be invited to come up with the next big technology ideas to improve our transport system.

Oh I didnt see this post have also reposted in Station upgrades with Se suggestions. Its a good idea at some stations with Park n Rides and High Density areas. Not just for Woolies but Coles should have an opportunity too. Woolies seems to have the upper hand in NSW with Opal top up now Click and Collect lockers.

But do they know the pain of the the 7:25 ferny grove 3 car train.Ironically the only train i've ever been on thats more crowded than that was a weekend blue mountains train. It was a mumbai express from strathfield. (also because it 90% of the train were indian tourists). The mountain bikers at glenbrook were not that pleased.

Only in Australia can a mostly underground rail line be shut because of tree's in overhead wiring.

"Customers are advised that trains have been suspended on the T4 - Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line between Martin Place and Bondi Junction in both directions due to a tree caught in the overhead wiring at Edgecliff. Buses are currently replacing trains between Martin Place (Stand F) and Bondi Junction (Grafton Street). Repair crews are on site and working to restore train services as soon as possible. At this stage we do not have a forecast of when the line can be reopened."

Well, as you said, it's "mostly" underground, apart from the section around Edgecliffe which is not.. hemce has just as much chance of getting trees etc in the overhead as any other exposed part of railway..

Sydney Trains has selected a customer-centric planning solution from Quintiq to implement a dynamic timetabling system in its new Rail Operations Centre (ROC).

The NSW Government is investing $276 m to minimise delays and ensure that when incidents do occur on the Sydney Trains rail network, customers receive better and faster information.

Sydney Trains will use Quintiq’s solution to provide computerised decision support for monitoring services and respond to service disruptions across the Sydney Metropolitan network, which has more than one million customer journeys each weekday and around 2885 timetabled services per day.

Tony Eid, executive director, Future Network Delivery at Sydney Trains, said the ROC would modernise how Sydney’s rail network is controlled by incorporating dozens of different systems into a single location and changing the approach to managing trains.

“At the moment Sydney Trains manages the trains and tracks, responds to incidents, communicates with customers and monitors their safety from different locations and in different ways,” he said. “The ROC will bring all staff involved in moving and controlling trains together in a centralised and coordinated way.

“Quintiq offers us innovative network optimisation technology that will provide support for our train controllers and signallers in recovering from disruptions on our train network,” added Eid. The technology includes an electronic train graph and will help to minimise the disruption and reduce consequential delays.”

Quintiq’s solutions have been implemented in other major public transport networks, including the London Underground and NTV, Italy’s first high-speed rail network. Its latest customer is Queensland Rail, which is also experiencing increasing demand for its services. “A mission-critical system such as the day of operations timetable system requires a strong foundation of trust and commitment from both parties,” said Quintiq’s CEO, Rob van Egmond.

Passengers travelling on trains across the Sydney network are advised to allow additional travel time due to the activation of fire alarm at Sydney Signalling Complex again. Trains are currently stopped across the network. Passengers are advised to listen to station announcements and check indicator boards. Lines affected:

T1 North Shore, Northern & Western Line T2 Airport, Inner West & South Line T3 Bankstown Line T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line T5 Cumberland Line T6 Carlingford Line Central Coast & Newcastle Line Blue Mountains Line South Coast Line T7 Olympic Park Line

A surge in day trippers, school children and people working different hours has led to the state government opting to put on more trains on some lines in the afternoon and changing timetables for parts of NSW's rail network.

Under the latest rejig, three extra all-stops trains will run between Bondi Junction and Hurstville in the city's south in the afternoon, doubling services on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line from Central Station between 3.15pm and 3.45pm.

The extra trains to run from October 17 mean four existing services bound for Cronulla and Waterfall in south Sydney will stop at fewer stations, in an attempt to reduce crowding and trip times by up to eight minutes.

Patronage on Sydney Trains' network is growing at about 8 per cent a year, leading to overcrowding on services during peak hours.

In the wake of a trial, four express services – three in the morning from Kiama and one in the afternoon from Central – will be integrated into the timetable for the South Coast Line next month.

More than 2000 seats a week will also be added to the Blue Mountains Line following a decision to double the size of an afternoon weekday service from Central to Lithgow to an eight-car train.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said commuters' travel patterns were changing, and more day trippers, school children and people working flexible hours meant passengers wanted to leave Sydney earlier in the day.

"Patronage on our rail network continues to grow and while we get on with delivering major infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro ... we have to look at other ways we can use our existing network more effectively," he said.

The first stage of the $20 billion-plus metro line from northwest Sydney to Chatswood is due to open in 2019.

However, single-deck driverless trains are not scheduled to begin running on the crucial second stage under Sydney Harbour from Chatswood to Bankstown via the CBD until 2024.

As a result of the latest changes, the departure times of 20 services across the network will change slightly. The maximum change will be up to eight minutes.

With demand for public transport surging, the Baird government has promised to increase the number of trains running each hour by two to 20 on the Western Line by 2019. The line is the busiest on Sydney's rail network, and its ability to handle more passengers is forecast to be exhausted within 15 years.

Under a fleet renewal project, the first of 512 new double-deck train carriages for NSW's intercity fleet will begin services to Newcastle, the Central Coast, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains in 2019. The $2.3 billion contract was awarded last month to a UGL-led consortium which will build the trains in South Korea.

Analysts also expect the government to award the contract for a $1 billion-plus purchase of new suburban trains for Sydney's rail network by November.

Negative people... have a problem for every solution.Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro.

The NSW Government has announced $1.5 billion for new trains, promising to run services between Sydney and the western suburbs every three minutes during peak periods.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said NSW was expecting a 21 per cent growth in the number of train commuters in the next five years.

"We're going to purchase an extra 24 Waratahs — the train loved by Sydney," he said.

"We'll be able to deliver more express services from Parramatta to the CBD, where we'll have an express service every three minutes during those busy times of the day."

Mr Constance said NSW was dealing with unprecedented demand from train customers, adding that the 24 new trains should be on the tracks by the end of 2018.

"We're going to invest $1.5 billion not only in new trains but also on major upgrades to deal with signalling, platforms, tracks," he said.

The Minister's announcement came on the same day the NSW Auditor-General released a report showing peak-hour afternoon trains in Sydney were late 161 of the 253 weekdays in the 2015–2016 financial year.

Regional trains improve, but state-run buses 'almost never' on time

Regional customers are experiencing better services in terms of punctuality; train lines in country areas reached targets for the first time in 13 years.

But state-run buses have not been running on time for four years, according to the Auditor-General Margaret Crawford.

"Private operators with metropolitan contracts almost never met punctuality targets for the middle or end of a trip," Ms Crawford said.

"State Transport Authority hasn't met any of its metropolitan targets over the last four years."

Ms Crawford recommended Transport for NSW consider introducing fines when buses do not run on time.

"Currently, only private bus operators can be financially penalised if they do not meet punctuality targets at the start of their trip," she said.

But Mr Constance dismissed that idea.

"In terms of the performance of STA and on-time running, we all want to see better," he said.

"What you're asking is the taxpayer to penalise themselves in that question."

He said the STA worked in some of Sydney's most congested areas, so faced obvious difficulties when it came to meeting punctuality targets.

Negative people... have a problem for every solution.Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro.